Obituary
Dr. William Hatch Ashbaugh, 90, formerly of York, PA, and the husband of Josephine P.
Ashbaugh, died of natural causes on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2020 in Port Orange, FL.
He was born on July 27, 1929 in New York, New York, the son of the late William LeRoy
Ashbaugh and Mary Brownlow Hatch Ashbaugh of Scarsdale NY.
Surviving besides his wife Judy, who was the love of his life, are a son, William Lee Ashbaugh
of Baltimore, MD, and a daughter, Carolyn Ann Butera married to Vincenzo Butera of York, PA,
four grandchildren, Michael Vincenzo Butera, Daniel William Butera, Matthew Emanuel Butera
and Katharine Gray Butera, and two great-grandchildren, Jeremiah and Lydia Butera. Surviving
in his wife’s family are four daughters: Olivia Muench, Dana Stillwell, Jodi Muench, and Anita
Ouellette, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
An avid sailor throughout his childhood and adult years, he sailed along the East Coast of the
United States and attained a Captain’s License through the United States Coast Guard. Many of
his summers were spent on Swan’s Island, Maine with his Aunt Bertha and then with his family.
In addition to sailing, he enjoyed learning new things, listening to classical music and Christian
hymns, reading, having deep discussions, keeping up with the latest technology and news, and
helping those less fortunate. Reading the Bible throughout his life, he received a new
understanding of his faith in Jesus Christ when as an adult he read, Mere Christianity , by C.S.
Lewis.
Dr. Ashbaugh completed his B.A. degree from Colby College, Waterville Maine in 1953 where
he majored in History. He earned his M.Ed. from the University of Maine in 1955 and was
awarded his Ph.D. in Psychology in 1962 from the Pennsylvania State University. His
dissertation was entitled, “ Effect Upon Achievement of Overt vs Covert Responses to
Programmed Learning Material for Students of Differing Academic Ability” . Dr. Ashbaugh
worked in the Montgomery County Public Schools in Rockville, Maryland as Supervisor of
Psychological Services. He then worked as the Executive Director of the Department of
Psychological Services and Educational Research for the Milwaukee Public Schools in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and as Consultant to the United States Office of Education, Washington,
D.C. before moving to York, Pennsylvania where he worked as Professor of Psychology at York
College of Pennsylvania for the remainder of his career from 1969 to1987. During his tenure at
York College, he served in the positions of Head of the Behavioral Science Department and
Academic Senate President.
Dr. Ashbaugh authored The Therapeutic Curriculum in 1965 which was published in the
academic journal, Psychology in the Schools. In 1967, he published a brochure for the
American Psychologist entitled, The School Psychologist .
Serving in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, Dr. Ashbaugh was in charge of
caring for the injured during their flight back home. An advisor to many, he maintained a strong
sense of humility as he served others and it is truly difficult to know the many organizations and
individuals that he helped over his lifetime. A few of the roles that he served in are the President
of Maryland School Psychologist’s Association, Chairman of the Committee on the Gifted Child
of the American Psychological Association, Board Member of the Mental Health Association of
Milwaukee, and active member of Optimist International and First Presbyterian Church in York,
PA. His most recent time of service was as a volunteer at Halifax Health Medical Center in
Florida.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to
The Salvation Army, an organization held dear by Dr. Ashbaugh for it’s good work over many
decades to share the love and compassion of Jesus and to meet human needs without
discrimination.
“Change is almost always good because you learn something new.”
Dr. William H. Ashbaugh 1929-2020
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